Is my school a community college or a state university???

[curt656]

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Ok guys, I am confused! Back when I started college, many moons ago, the school I am currently attending was called Miami Dade Community College. Many years later, after I stopped going to school, this college was approved to offer a few Bachelor Degree's like Nursing, Education, etc (back around 2000-2001). The name was changed to Miami Dade College. In my mind, I think of this school as a CC, but I was talking with a classmate today who says that Miami Dade College is no longer considered a CC and is a regular university, albeit a very low tier one.

I am currently declared as a Biology major and will finish my AA by the end of the year ready to transfer. I have started putting my applications in to transfer to either FIU or UF (or possibly any of the other state universities) to start January 2012. Today, I get an e-mail from the college announcing that the State Board of Education has this day approved Miami Dade to offer a BS in Biological Sciences with concentrations in biotechnology, biopharmaceutical sciences, and science education.

My 2 questions are thus:

1) Is my current school NOT a community college and in fact a very low-tier state school?? I have held off on taking some pre-req's until I transfer because of the stigma surrounding CC's, and I will breathe a little easier for having taken Bio 1, Chem 1 & 2, and Physics 1 & 2 here (I have been holding off Bio 2 and Organics until I transfer).

2) (I suppose I already know the answer to this, but will throw it out anyways) Should I NOT transfer and finish my bachelor's at Miami Dade and save a crap pile of money (although I freaking hate Miami Dade and have been sooooo looking forward to getting out of here)? I think the answer here is to transfer and finish at a higher regarded university.

As always, your advice and points of view are all appreciated and well received!

 

[NightGod]

1) Lower-tier state school. They offer 4 year degrees and that's pretty much the defining difference between CCs and 4 year school.
2) I'd be tempted to stay. Unless you are planning to attend an Ivy or some similarly highly regarded school, your school isn't going to matter nearly as much as your GPA and MCAT scores (and your future loan balance). Of course, if you feel the quality of the education is very poor and that you won't feel prepared for med school, then look into transferring. But if you think the teachers are up to snuff, I would stay. I know if I had the option to complete a Bachelor's at the CC I'm currently enrolled at, I'd do it in a heartbeat: smaller classes, taught by PhDs and not TAs and much, much cheaper.

 

[curt656]

1) Lower-tier state school. They offer 4 year degrees and that's pretty much the defining difference between CCs and 4 year school.
2) I'd be tempted to stay. Unless you are planning to attend an Ivy or some similarly highly regarded school, your school isn't going to matter nearly as much as your GPA and MCAT scores (and your future loan balance). Of course, if you feel the quality of the education is very poor and that you won't feel prepared for med school, then look into transferring. But if you think the teachers are up to snuff, I would stay. I know if I had the option to complete a Bachelor's at the CC I'm currently enrolled at, I'd do it in a heartbeat: smaller classes, taught by PhDs and not TAs and much, much cheaper.

Thank you NightGod! I definitely have some thinking to do. The problem that I have is that I do not have anything to compare the quality of the education to. I just don't know. My head tells me that it is not up to snuff, as Miami Dade has always had a stigma of being the "13th grade" of high school as far back as I can remember. They accept anybody who can fill out the form, and the classes are filled with slackers who drive the professors insane begging for extra credit and grades that they do not earn. Not that it REALLY matters, but I would not be proud to say that I got my BS at Miami Dade, and in fact might be embarrassed to admit, lol. I am worried about how my in state med schools will view a BS from Miami Dade considering the stigma that it has as a former community college. The one thing that Miami Dade has going for it is that I could attend a full year of classes (including summer) for what the other state schools charge for one semester.

That being said, FIU is a tier 2 school with no national ranking and is considered a back up to UF for me. UF ranks right around top 50, FSU right around 100, UCF 130ish, and USF 150ish. I am by no means making a decision based on rankings, but just giving an idea of where the main state schools fall and trying to put Miami Dade into some sort of perpective with them.

What to do, what to do. I may have to ask Q or LizzyM.

 

[NightGod]

To be fair, most community colleges have a similar reputation in the communities they serve. I know mine does. But from what I have experienced and from discussions with people who have graduated from four-year schools and people who are currently enrolled in four year schools, my current education rivals and, in many cases, outright beats what is available elsewhere. Honestly, it's the main reason I'm sticking around another year-I've heard SO many bad things about the physics program at the four year I'll be transferring to that I am staying here to cover it.

 

[LizzyM]

You could stay. You'll need a really good gpa and a really good MCAT. The good MCAT proves that you actually learned as much as applicants from those fancy schools and didn't get that gpa thanks to grade inflation or low averages within classrooms.

You are a non-trad if you've been attend college for 10 years or more and the school you are attending is no longer a community college so I wouldn't worry about that. Graduating with little or no debt is a good thing and shouldn't be discounted.

In the end, the key for you will be an excellent MCAT so focus your attention there after you have taken the pre-reqs.

 

[QofQuimica]

If you're happy with the education you've been getting at Miami-Dade, and you feel that you're going to be prepared for the MCAT, then I don't see any problem with staying there if that's what you want to do. As Lizzy said, you will want to have a strong GPA and MCAT, but you should do your best to have strong stats no matter where you go to school. Ultimately it is you who determine how strong your academic performance is, not your school. 🙂

 

[chrissyxf]

I posted this elsewhere recently buuut, I live in S Florida as well and will tell you that I spoke to the UM med school admission dean regarding MDC classes (I needed to take something local and wanted convenient times with work. Even though I can take UM classes for free, they only offer them during the day usually, except labs). In any case, he told me that MDC is considered to be an inferior 4 year college in their eyes and at most FL med schools- another poster who's accepted at Nova for DO now (I believe) says that Nova was the only place she interacted with who didn't feel this way. He told me explicitly to avoid taking my organic chem class there and I did- it took a ton of re-arranging work schedules but I believe my A there is well regarded in Florida med schools.
Honestly, if I were you, and could afford it or could get loans or grants and can get in, I would transfer to UF. UF is our state's "golden" boy. If that's not feasible, consider UM or USF then FIU.
Good luck!

 

[curt656]

I posted this elsewhere recently buuut, I live in S Florida as well and will tell you that I spoke to the UM med school admission dean regarding MDC classes (I needed to take something local and wanted convenient times with work. Even though I can take UM classes for free, they only offer them during the day usually, except labs). In any case, he told me that MDC is considered to be an inferior 4 year college in their eyes and at most FL med schools- another poster who's accepted at Nova for DO now (I believe) says that Nova was the only place she interacted with who didn't feel this way. He told me explicitly to avoid taking my organic chem class there and I did- it took a ton of re-arranging work schedules but I believe my A there is well regarded in Florida med schools.
Honestly, if I were you, and could afford it or could get loans or grants and can get in, I would transfer to UF. UF is our state's "golden" boy. If that's not feasible, consider UM or USF then FIU.
Good luck!

Thank's Chrissy, that is great information!! I have taken Bio 1, Chem 1 & 2 (taking 2 currently), and Physics 1 & 2 (taking 2 currently). Unfortunately I did not know about all of this sooner or I would not have taken any of them at MDC. Thankfully I have not taken Orgo, and will take the rest at wherever I land. I have already applied to FIU, but am waiting for my summer grades before applying to UF. I only have 5 classes left for my AA, and they are all non-science classes. I will be transferring after the fall semester.

UF is going to be my first choice, even though going to UM is a childhood dream as I am a HUGE Cane fan!! I just can't afford to go there (unless you could hook me up with a job? j/k, lol). Thank you very much for your input!! I am so glad I found SDN, otherwise I would be totally lost!

 

[chrissyxf]

Haha, I was super lucky to get a job at a UM even before knowing I'd one day want to go back to school...they offer it for even part time employees-and you don't need to be a medical provider- basically anything will do, computer tech, radiology, transportation, janitor, plant operations, food services (either at UMH or the coral gables campus). You should consider it as an option if you really would want to attend UM and just aren't because of finances. I think it's 1/2 tuition for part time employees...you need at least 6 months employment before you're eligible so plan accordingly. Also, it's good for spouses and children if you have those.
good luck in your endeavor and pm me if there's anything else i can help you with!